About Richard Adams

Richard changed the spelling of his last name to Addams to keep his line distinct from the other Adams families.

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Will Book H. Page 528: Will of Richard Adams, written Feb. 1, 1747, probated March 24, 1747.

In the name of God, Amen: I, RICHARD ADAMS, of Providence in the County o f Philadelphia, yeoman, being very sick and weak in the Body, but of a S ound Disposing mind and memory, Considering the uncertainty of this Tra nsitory Life and the Certainty of Death, Do make and Ordain this my Las t Will and Testament in manner and form following (viz).

1. I give and Bequeath to my Eldest Daughters children, Sussanah Kistar d, late wife of Conrad Kistard, deceased, the sum of Ten Pounds Lawful M oney of Pennsylvania, to be Equally Divided between them, Share and Sha re alike, to be paid within 12 months after my decease.

2. I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Catherine, Widow of John Morris , the sum of Ten Pounds of like lawful money to be paid by my Executors w ithin Twelve months after my decease.

3. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary, Widow of Israel Morris, t he sum of Ten Pounds of Like Money aforesaid to be paid within Twelve m onths after my decease.

4. I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Margaret, now Wife of Paul Cass elberry, the Sum of Ten Pounds Lawful Money aforesaid to be paid within T welve Months by my Executors.

5. I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth, now Wife of Thos. Bu ll, the sum of Ten Pounds Lawful Money aforesaid to be paid within Twel ve Months after my decease by my Executors.

6. I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Ann, the sum of Ten Pounds Lawf ul Money aforesaid to be paid to her, or her husband Jacob Umstatt by m y Executors within Twelve Months after my decease.

7. I give and Bequeath unto my Son Abrams Children the sum of Ten Pound s Lawful Money aforesaid to be paid them or the survivor of them, Equal ly Share and Share alike (viz) Ann and Abigail, to be paid within Twelv e Months after my decease by my Executors.

8. Imprimise: I give and Bequeath and Devise unto my two sons, viz., Wi lliam and Isaac, the moiety, or half-part, of all the Remainder of my e state after the above Legacies, Debts and funeral Charges is paid, to b e equally Divided between them Share and Share alike. That is to say, e ach one is to have a quarter part to hold to them, their Heirs and Assi gns for ever.

9. Imprimise: I give, Bequeath and Devise unto my well beloved wife Als e and youngest Daughter Hannah the other Moiety, or half-part, of my es tate after the aforesaid Debts and Legacies is paid and Discharged as a foresaid to be equally Divided between my said Wife and Daughter Hannah H usband Owen Evans to hold them their Heirs and Assigns for ever, each o ne quarter part.

10. And Further: It is my will that if Either of my aforesaid two sons W illiam and Isaac shall be able and have a mind to keep my Plantation an d Lands situated in the Township aforesaid, containing one hundred and f ifty acres, I give, Devise and Bequeath the same to one of them to hold t o them, their Heirs and Assigns for Ever. Provided they pay the three p arts in four of the value thereof to my other Son that shall not Chuse t o keep the said Lands and to my wife and Daughter Hannah or her aforesa id Husband Owen Evans, to each of them a quarter part as aforesaid with in two years after my decease, otherwise I order and Impower my Executo rs, or the survivor of them, to Sell and Convey my Plantation and Lands t o the Highest Bidder or for the Best price that can be got for the same , and the Money ariseing therefrom to be Divided in four Equal parts af ter my debts and seven first Legacies are paid and discharged aforesaid ( viz) one Quarter part to my said Wife, and one to my Daughter Hannah or h er Husband Owen Evans, and one to my son William and the other Quarter p art to my son Isaac.

11. Lastly, I do make and ordain my aforesaid two sons and my said son- in-law Owen Evans to be Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, D isallowing, Revoking and Disannulling all other former Wills, Legacies a nd Executors by me in any wise before this time named or bequeathed, ra tifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testame nt. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this First D ay of February Anno Domini one Thousand seven hundred and forty seven.

Richard (X) Adams his mark

Witnesses: Richard Bull James Betsen Peter Tyson

Salford, March 24, 1747, James Betsen and Peter Tyson declared they saw a nd heard Richard Adams declare the same to be his will.

The Adams family were Anglicans, and early members of St. James Church, P erkiomen. Richard Adams inherited the property his grandfather Richard A dams I bought from William Penn in 1681. Richard inherited it from his U ncle Nicholas in 1725. It is not clear when Richard came to America, or i f his uncle Nicholas was here or in England when he died. Richard was c ertainly here in 1698 and married to Gertien Op den Graef, as her fathe r Abraham deeded him, as his son-in-law, 91 acres of land that year. Ri chard's signature appears on the Petition of the Inhabitants of Colebro okdale of Berks Co. in 1728 for 'relief of suffering at the hands of th e Indians'. The area they lived in was called Falkner's Swamp, near Gos chenhoppen.